Machine for die drawing metal tubes



Sept. 25, 1956 w. E. KERR 2,764,279

MACHINE FOR DIE DRAWING METAL TUBES Filed Aug. 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1IN VEN TOR. WALLACE E KERR BYW/ ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1956 w. E. KERR2,764,279

MACHINE FOR DIE DRAWING METAL TUBES Fi'led Aug. 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet2 IN VEN TOR. l l a//are E /ferv".

BY 70 WM Sept 25, 1956 w. E. KERR 2,764,279

MACHINE FOR DIE DRAWING METAL TUBES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 10, 194944 urn- INVEN TOR. Wa//are AT/fe rr sym/ ATTORA/EK Sept. 25, 1956 FiledAug. 10 1949 W. E. KERR MACHINE FOR DIE DRAWING METAL TUBES 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Sept. 25, 1956 w. E. KERR MACHINE FOR DIE DRAWING METAL TUBES 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 10, 1949 "LL IML'I.

I N VEN TOR. ,Wd//dC 5 A 'rv".

A 7" TaR/I/EK United States Patent F 2,764,279 MACHINE FOR DIE DRAWINGMETAL TUBES Wallace E. Kerr, Youngstown, Ohio Application August 10,1949, Serial No. 109,451

11 Claims. (Cl. 205-7) This invention relates generally to a machine fordie drawing metal tubes and more particularly to such a machineincorporating novel means for receiving and aligning tubular workpieceswith a drawing die.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a machine fordie drawing metal tubes incorporating relatively simple and efiicientmeans for receiving and rectilinearly moving and positioning tubes inalignment with a drawing die.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for diedrawing metal tubes incorporating structure controllable from a singlelocation and enabling the machine to be operated by one man.

' A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machinefor die drawing metal tubes wherein the mandrel and the tube receivingand aligning means is adjustable and controllable from one positionthereby reducing the time heretofore believed necessary in the operationof comparable machines.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machinefor die drawing metal tubes which incorporates a grip buggy and meansfor engaging a prime mover and controllable by the tension exerted onthe said prime mover.

The machine for drawing metal tubes as disclosed herein will berecognized by those skilled in the art as a structure comparable in somerespect with draw benches and similar apparatus heretofore known in theart in which a metal workpiece of a tubular nature is positioned over amandrel and aligned mechanically with a die and moved therethrough forreducing the diameter of the tubular workpiece. Such machines for diedrawing metal tubes have been heretofore constructed and used and inwhich a plurality of mandrels have been provided with means for feedinga tubular workpiece over one mandrel while another workpiece is beingdrawn through the die over another mandrel. Various mechanicalconstructions have been devised, built. and used for moving the mandreland tubular workpiece receiving means of the apparatus from tubereceiving or loading position to drawing position. I

The present invention resides primarily in the novel means for receivingsuch tubular workpieces and moving them rectilinearly and axially intosubstantial alignment with the drawing die wherebythey may be engaged inthe said die and the desired drawing operation performed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within.

the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the acompanying draW-.

ing, wherein:

,Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine for die draw- 2,764,279Patented Sept. 25, 1956'v ing metal tubes with parts broken away andparts in cross' section.

Figure 2 is an end elevation taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig-- ure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan of the device in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line: 5-5 of Figure l.

, Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of. the deviceillustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of the device illus-- trated inFigures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the de vice shown inFigure l.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of a portion of one off the barrelsillustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a sleeve wrench en gageable in the endof the barrel illustrated in Figure 9 for adjusting the longitudinalposition of the barrel in the; apparatus.

Figure 11 is an end view taken on line 1212 of'Fi'gure 6 and Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a cross section taken on line 13-13 of; Figure 1. 7

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it willbe seen that a machine for die drawing metal tubes has been disclosedwhich comprises an assembly of devices for receiving tubes to be shaped,mov ing the tubes into approximate alignment with a die, posi tioningthem in the die and drawing them through the die. In Figure 1 of thedrawings the tube feeding means is generally indicated by the letter F,the tube receiving and aligning means by the letter R and the formingdie by' the letter D. The means for gripping the tube and moving itthrough the die is generally indicated by the letter G.

In conjunction with these several main portions of the device an endabutment portion of the apparatus, generally indicated by the letter A,is movable longitudinally of the machine to move the tube receiving andaligning means into the die D so that the tube can be gripped by thegripping means G. It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the artthat the machine for die drawing metal tubes disclosed herein comprisesa plurality of interrelated co-ordinated devices for feeding a tube tobe drawn into a suitable receiving section of the machine where it ispositioned over a mandrel and then moved into substantial alignment withthe drawing die. It is then presented to the drawing die by movement ofthe abutment end portion of the machine and gripped by the grippingmeans. Simultaneously with the initial drawing action of the grippingmeans, the mandrel is moved into the die area and the drawing processcontinues until the tubev is moved completely out of the machine.

In describing the apparatus capable of accomplishing; the operationautomatically, rapidly and under the control of one operator, likenumerals indicate like parts in.- the various views of the drawings. Thedrawings and de scription comprise a preferred embodiment of theinverrtion.

Still referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen thata die stand 10 is positioned on one end of a draw bench 11 which in turnis supported by vertical supporting means 12 and which includeslongitudinally extending tracks 13 on which a grip buggy 14 isreciprocally mounted. The grip buggy 14 includes jaws 15 for gripping areduced end of a tubular member T. The grip buggy 14 includes a hook 16engageable with a link chain 17 which in turn is carried over aplurality of sprockets 18 on the draw bench 11 and provided with meansener-' gizing thesame so as to-rnove the upper portion of the 3linkchain 17which is engaged by the hook 16 to the right, as-illustratedin Figure 1 of the drawings.

Means for feeding tubes T to the die D on the die stand and forengagement by the jaws of the grip buggy '14 comprise an elevated tubesupporting stand 5 and a pair of pinch rolls 19 by means of which tubesT positioned on the elevated tube supporting stand S may be ,rnovedlongitudinally of the machine, to the left as shown in Figure l of thedrawings. The tube receiving and aligning means, generally indicated bythe letter R, comprise a plurality of tube receiving barrels 20, eachgroup of which is mounted on at least two pairsof double actingelevators 21-21 and 2222. The double acting elevators 21-21 are locatedadjacent the die stand 10 and the elevators 2,2-22 are located adjacentthe outer end of the device and spaced withrespect to the 'die stand 10by a longitudinally extending I beam 23. The two pairs of elevators21-21 and 2222 are each inter-connected by means of tubular guides 24 aswell as by the plurality of barrels heretofore described. The elevators21-21 are shown in greater detail in end, side and top plan views inFigures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The elevators 2222 are shown in end and top plan elevations in Figures 3and 4 of the drawings, and by referring thereto it will be observed thatthey incorporate means for moving the barrels 20 rectilinearly as wellas means for controlling the longitudinal movementof the barrels 20 whenin axial alignment with the die D and during a drawing operation. Itwill be observed that the means for moving the barrels 20 rectilinearlyfrom tube receiving to die aligning position are identical in both ofthe pairs of elevators 21-21 and 22-22. Longitudinally extending shafts25 and 26 are positioned through the stands 27 and 28 supporting theelevators 21-21 and 2222. Crank arms 29 and 30 connect the elevators21-21 with the shafts 25 and 26 and secondary crank arms 31 and 32connect the shafts 25 and 26 to the means limiting the longitudinalmovement of the barrels 20-20 as hereinafter described in detail.

The elevators 21-21 are actuated by vertically positioned elevatorshafts 33 and 34, as best seen by referring to Figures 5 and 6 of thedrawings. The shafts 33 and 34 being positioned for vertical movement intwo pairs of supporting brackets 35-35 and 36-36 which are in turnsecured to the elevator stand 27. Each of the elevator shafts 33 and 34is connected at its lowermost end with the outermost end of the arms 29and 30 by meansof links 37 and 38, respectively. Means for movingv theelevator shafts 33 and 34 vertically are provided and comprise pneumaticpiston and cylinder assemblies .39

and. 40, the piston rods of each being indicated by the numerals 41 and42. It will be observedthat the piston rod. 41 is pivoted at itsoutermost end to thearm 29 and the piston rod 42 is pivoted at itsoutermost end to the arm30. The cylinders 39 and are pivoted at theiropposite (upper) endsas by pivots 43 and 44 to the brackets 35 and 36.Means is provided for the pneumatic actuation of the piston and cylinderassemblies 39 and 40 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be obvious that the motion imparted to the arms 29 and 30 by thepiston and cylinder assemblies 39 and 40 will be conveyed by thelongitudinally extending shafts 25 and 26 to the elevator supportingstand 28 and more particularly to the arms 31 and 32 therein whichactuate the longitudinal movement limiting means and the :secondaryelevators 22-22 which are connected at their lowermost ends by means ofarms 45 and 46 with the shafts 26 and 25, respectively. The secondaryelevators 22-22 include vertical shafts 47 and 43 which correspond withthe vertical shafts 33 and 34, heretofore referred to in connection withthe elevators 21-21.

.By referring to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be observed that the Ibeam 23 which extends between the eleva orstandz'l and the secondaryelevator stand .28 'has .a pair of tandem connected piston and cylinderassemblies 49 and 50 mounted thereunder. The cylinder of the piston andcylinder assembly 50 is fixed to the I beam 23 andthe cylinder of thepiston and cylinder assembly 49 is slidably mounted for longitudinalmovement with respect to the I beam 23. The piston of the piston andcylinder assembly 50 is connected to the cylinder of the piston andcylinder assembly-49 so that the latter may be moved thereby. The pistonof the piston and cylinder assembly 49 has a piston rod 51 whichisconnected through a suitable connection 52 with a drive shaft 53 whichin turn extends rearwardly and is journaled in a ball bushing 54 on anend abutment stand .55. A pair of similarly formed and oppositelydisposed rocker arms 56 and '57, as best illustrated in Figure 2 of thedrawings, are

mounted on the drive shaft 53 for longitudinal movement with respect tothe device and for pivotal movement on the drive shaft 53, as shown indotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

By referring to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be observed that theextreme outer ends of the tubular guides 24-24 are secured to connectingmembers 53-58 which in turn are positioned for vertical movement onvertical guide bars 59-59 which are integral parts of the rocker arms 56and 57. It will thus be seen that the tube receiving barrels 20-21 aresupported above the I beam 23 and parallel therewith by the elevators21-21 and 2222 and connected to the rocker arms 56 and 57 by the tubularguides 24-24. It will also be seen that in order to move the barrelsZti-Ztl from tube receiving to tube feeding position with respect to thedie D in the die stand 10, the operation of the elevators 21-21 and22-22 and the rocker arms 56 and 5,7 is necessary as the barrels 20-20are in end alignment therewith in tube receiving and tube feedingpositions and move in a rectilinear pattern between these respectivepositions.

In operating the device, a tube T is positioned on the stand S fromwhence it may be fed by the pinch rolls 19 into one of the barrels 20-29which is supported in elevated relation to the die stand 10, as shown inFigure 1 of the drawings, by the elevators 21-21 and 22-22. Air pressureis introduced into the piston and cylinder assembly 49 which moves thedrive shaft 53 longitudinally of the device and away from the area ofthe die stand 10 and thereby moves the rocker arms 56 and 57 away fromthe die stand 10 (to the left as shown in the drawings), which actionmoves the barrels 20-20 away from the tube receiving andfeeding positionand at the same time causes them to swing outwardly on arcs based on thevertical shafts 33 and 34 and 47 and 48, respectively, as these shaftsare fixed with respect to horizontal movement by their connections tothe elevator stands 27 and 28. This action is best illustrated inFigures 4 and 7 of the drawings and by referring thereto it will be seenthat dottedlines indicate the arcuate patterns followed by each of theelevators 21-21 and 2222 as they are moved on a horizontal plane by theaforesaid longitudinal movementof the rocker arms 56 and 57. When theelevators 21-21 and 22-22 have moved to horizontally and verticallyspaced position,.as shown by dotted lines in Figures 4 and 7, asoccasioned by the rearward movement of the rocker arms 56, the rockerarms 56 and 57 will each be inclined from vertical, as shown in dottedlines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

It will thus occur to those skilled in the art that the respectivebarrels 20-20 will have moved rearwardly with. respect to the die stand10 and horizontally on the arcs illustrated in Figures 4 and 7 ofthedrawings so that the elevators 21-21 and 2222 are spaced horizontallywith respect to one another as well as vertically. When this hasoccurred, the connection 52 on the drive shaft 53 will engage a valve 60which will permit the energiza tion of the pneumatic piston and cylinderassemblies 39 and 40 which are then actuated to move the verticalelevator shafts 33 and 34 and 47 and 48 so that the uppermostassembly ofbarrels 20-20 move downwardly and the lowermost assembly of barrels20-20 move upwardly. Thus, a tube T positioned in one of the barrels20-20 of the uppermost assembly is moved downwardly to the horizontalplane of the die D on the die stand 10. When this occurs, the piston andcylinder assembly 49 is energized and the rocker arms 56 and 57 aremoved thereby inwardly toward the die stand 10 (to the right in thedrawing) which action swings the elevators 21-21 and 22-22 to theposition illustrated in solid lines in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawingswherein the barrels 20-20 are again located on the same vertical planeand the lowermost assembly has moved into horizontal and verticalalignment with the die D on the die stand 10. Such action automaticallymoves the end of the tube T into the die D and partially therethrough inwhich position the previously reduced end of the tube T may be grippedby the jaws of the grip buggy 14 for a subsequent drawing action.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that it is necessary toposition a mandrel within the area of the die D in order to control thewall thickness and interior diameter of the tube T being drawn. MandrelsM are accordingly carried on the outermost ends of mandrel rods 61 whichare positioned in each of the barrels -20 and over one of which the tubeT had previously been positioned when it was placed in one of thebarrels 20. In order that the tube T may be easily moved into the die D,the barrel 20, the mandrel M and the rod 61 on which it is secured areheld in retracted position while the tube T is moved into drawingposition with respect to the die D by the pneumatic piston and cylinderassembly 50 which is energized for this purpose and exerts its motionthrough the pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 49, the drive shaft53 and the rocker arms 56 and 57 as heretofore described. This latteraction occurs when the jaws 15 of the grip buggy 14 have engaged uponthe tube T and have begun to move it through the die D. Thus, theinitial effort of moving the tube is reduced by this delayed positioningof the mandrel M. A suitable grip buggy construction and driving chainarrangement is illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,404,234,issued July 16, 1946, on Drawing Machine.

In order that the mandrel positioning operation just described may beautomatically performed, a valve 62 is positioned adjacent the linkchain 17 for operation by a vertical cone-shaped plunger 63 (see Figure1), the upper end of which is adapted to be engaged by the chain 17 whenthe same is in slack position and the valve 62 thereby held in closedposition. When the hook 16 of the buggy 14 engages the link chain 17 andtension is exerted on the chain, the same will rise upwardly and assumethe position of the lines of force between the hook 16 and the outermostsprocket (not shown) which will lift the chain 17 with respect to theplunger 63 and thereby permit the valve 62 to open. The valve 62controls the piston and cylinder assembly 50 which is then energized andmoves the rocker arms 56 and 57, the barrels 20-20 and, mostimportantly, the mandrels M into proper position so that the properautomatic sequence of operation is mechanically achieved. It will beobserved that during this operation the elevators 21-21 and 22-22 are instationary position as the barrels 20-20 are movable longitudinally withrespect thereto as are the mandrels M on their mandrel rods 61.

Means for adjusting the effective location of the barrels 20-20 and themandrel rods 61 and hence the positioning of the mandrels M with respectto the die are provided positioned and which barrel is threadablyengaged in one of the elevators 22-22 and thereby capable oflongitudinal movement. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, theelevator 22 has a threaded bore 22d and the tube receiving barrel 20 hasan exteriorly threaded portion 20e engaging the threaded bore 22d of theelevator 22.

In order that the operation of the elevators 21-21 and 22-22 may be morereadily understood, the same are illustrated in detail in Figures 3, 4,5, 6 and 7. By referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings it willbe seen that the stand 28 which supports the elevators 22-22 alsocarries two pairs of oppositely disposed, horizontally extendingbrackets 67 and 68 which have journals formed on their outermost endsfor slidably receiving the vertical elevator shafts 47 and 48 whichcarry the elevators 22-22 on their uppermost ends. The elevators 22-22are more particularly described as comprising rotatable body members 69and 70 located on the uppermost ends of the vertical shafts 47 and 48and each of which has a sidewardly extending arm 71 and 72, theoutermost ends of which carry bushings 73 and 74 which in turn rotatablysupport the elevators 22-22, as heretofore described.

Each of the elevators 22-22 comprises in effect a body member partiallysupporting one group of barrels 20-20, as heretofore described, and oneof the guide rods 24. Each group of barrels 20-20 and guide rod 24,which interconnect each of the elevators 21-21 and 22-22, respectively,thus hold the same in horizontal spaced alignment with one another andit will be under stood that there are two elevator assemblies 22 on theelevator stand 28, two elevator assemblies 21 on the elevator stand 27,and two groups of barrels 20-20.

Still referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings,

it will be observed that the upper portion of the elevator stand 28forms a platform 75 having upstanding guides 76 at both sides thereofand vertically movable abutments 77 inwardly from the sides thereof.These vertically movable abutments 77 are pivotally connected to thearms 31 and 32, heretofore described as being connected to thelongitudinally extending actuating shafts 25 and 26, by way of links 78and 79, respectively. The vertically movable abutments 77 areautomatically positioned by the actuation of the shafts 26 and 25 andprevent longitudinal movement of the barrels 20-20 and their mandrels Mtoward the die D during the tube drawing operation, and automaticallyreverse their effective and retracted positions in accordance with thevertical movement of the vertical elevator shafts 47 and 48, so as toproperly register with the elevator 22 adjacent V thereto.

By referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings it will be observed thatthe elevators 22-22 move into posi tion adjacent the abutments 77 whenin theirlower tube feeding position, as previously described, and thatthey are each provided with flat elongated abutting surfaces so thattheir alignment with the abutment members 77 on the upper end of theelevator stand 28 is automatically maintained. As heretofore described,the elevators 22-22 are provided with threaded bores through which thebarrels 20-20 are positioned for adjustment longitudinally with respectto the apparatus so that the positioning of the mandrels M, which arecarried one in each of the barrels 20-20, may be varied with respect tothe die D in the die stand 10. It will also be seen that the mandrelrods 61-61 are detachably connected to the outermost ends of the barrels20-20 at points 2013 so that they may be removed and replaced, asdesired.

By referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, detailedillustrations of the elevator stand 27 may be seen and it will beobserved that each of the elevators 21-21, respectively, carried therebyare connected to the guide rods 24 and the barrels 20-20 insubstantially the same manner as the elevators 22-22, heretoforedescribed. Each of the elevators 21-21 is supported on a bushing 80which is in turn carried on the outermost ends of arms 81 and '82 whichhave body members 83 and 84 rotatably positioned on the uppermost endsof the vertical elevator shafts 33 and 34. It will thus be seen that thelongitudinal alignment of the barrels 20 and the guide rods 24-24 alwaysmaintain the proper transverse positioning of the elevators 2121 despitetheir rectilinear movement as occasioned by the vertical movement of theshafts 3'3 and 34 and the transverse arcuate movement of the arms 81 and82 as heretofore described.

Still referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that once the rocker arms 56 and 57 havemoved outwardly with respect to the die stand 10, the pneumatic pistonand cylinder assemblies 39 and 40 may be individually or simultaneouslyenergized, as desired.

In Figures 6 and ll of the drawings, alternating valves 85 areillustrated for effecting the automatic alternating action of the pistonand cylinder assemblies 39 and it) and it will be observed by referringthereto that they are operated by arms 86 carried on the ends of theshafts 25 and 26 and where they extend through the elevator stand 27.The alternating valves 85 control the air supply to the piston andcylinder assemblies 39 and 40 and with respect to a main air supply line87 and by way of a control valve 88. The control valve 88 is a four-wayvalve which controls the action of the elevators 21--21 and 22-22 by wayof the pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies 39 and 40 heretoforedescribed so that desired sequence of operation may be obtained.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that a suitable source ofair pressure is in communication with the main supply line 37 and thatsuitable piping (not shown) connects the supply line 87 with the valve62, which is operated by the position of the main driving chain 17, andthe piston and cylinder assembly 59, controlled thereby. The variousvalves employed, other than those heretofore mentioned, are not furtherdescribed or illustrated herein, as they are commercial devices andknown in the art.

It will thus be seen that the device disclosed herein possesses certainfeatures not found in the apparatus heretofore known in the art andparticularly in the construction and operation of the elevator mechanismby means of which the barrel and mandrel tube receiving portions of thedevice are alternately positioned in tube receiving and tube feedingposition and moved rectilinearly between these positions by the simpleexpedient of endwise movement of the tube receiving barrel and mandrelassemblies themselves as occasioned by their slidable and pivotalconnections with the sidewardly movable and longitudinally movablerocker arms 56 and 57. Thus, the pneumatic piston and cylinderassemblies 49 and 50 and the piston and cylinder assemblies 39 and 40are able to effectively move the tube receiving barrels 2020 from tubereceiving position horizontally, vertically and again horizontally, in arectilinear pattern to the end that a' simple and efficient mechanism isprovided which may be economically constructed and easily andefficiently operated as compared with the apparatus heretofore known inthe art for achieving this purpose and such as, for example, thatdisclosed in the previously issued U. S. Patents No. 2,196,155 to H. W.Smith and No. 2,472,231 to W. Rodder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine for die drawing metal tubes, pipes and the like thecombination of a die, a pair of mandrel rods and a pair of tubularbarrels positioned over said,

rods, rocker arms for holding said mandrel rods and tubular barrels inposition relative to said die and for moving the same toward and awaytherefrom, elevator means for simultaneously lowering one of the saidmandrel rods and tubular barrels in a rectilinear path out of loadingposition into drawing position and elevating the other of the saidmandrel rods and tubular barrels in an oppositely rectilinear path fromsubstantially the same drawing position into substantially the sameloading position, the said tubular barrel and mandrel comprising meansfor supporting a tube, the said rocker arms movable longitudinally ofthe said machine for engaging the said tube and mandrel in the said die.

2. In a machine for die drawing metal tubes a die, a pair of tubereceiving barrels each having a mandrel rod therein, and means formovably supporting the said tube receiving barrels and mandrel rodscomprising elevator stands incorporating spaced vertically movableshafts having inturned arms pivoted thereto and carrying the saidbarrels and mandrel rods on their outermost ends, pivoted rocker armsmovable longitudinally of said machine and connected to said barrels andmandrel rods for moving said barrels and mandrel rods longitudinally andtransversely on arcs based on said shafts, and means for alternatelyraising and lowering the said shafts to move said barrels and mandrelrods bodily rectilinearly in oppositely disposed paths toward and awayfrom said die.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized by the saidbarrels and mandrel rods being adjustable longitudinally with respect tosaid inturned arms and the said die.

4. In a machine for die drawing metal tubes including a stationary dieand a bench extending forwardly therefrom; a forward moving means, at aplace on and extending forwardly along said bench, for applying a movingforce; a device movable along said bench for drawing the tube throughsaid die, a coupling element secured to said device at a point spacedfrom said means, said element being operative to couple said device tosaid means whereby application of said moving force to said pointdisplaces said means from said place; a retractile mandrel mountedrearwardly of and for forward movement to within said die, a motor forso moving said mandrel, a follower biased to bear on said means and sodisplaceable therewith, a controller for said motor actuated by thedisplacement of said follower whereby application of said moving forceeffects said forward movement of said mandrel to within said die.

5. In a machine for die drawing metal tubes, a die, a pair of rodshaving secured respectively thereto mandrels for alternate insertionwithin the tubes within the die, a pair of rod holding membersrespectively anchoring the rod ends remote from said mandrels,rectilinearly guided elevators on opposite sides of the machine forrespectively supporting said members for alternate movement along aplane into and from a position in a plane in axial alignment with saiddie, means to alternately effect the ascent and descent of saidelevators; a second means for moving the said members and rods, anchoredrespectively thereto, along the second said plane into axial alignmentwith and alternately toward and away from said die, a pair of retractileabutments and linkages respectively associated therewith and with thefirst said means for moving the elevators, so transmitting movement fromthe descent of the latter to retract one retractile abutment for onesaid member out of the second said plane and the ascent of the othersaid member to advance the other retractile abutment for the other saidmember into said plane.

6. A machine for die drawing metal tubes including a die, longitudinallypositioned tube holding means, means for sustaining said tube holdingmeans in position for the reception of a tube, said last mentioned meansincluding transversely positioned arms, supports for said arms on whichthe same are pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement to movesaid tube holding means bodily laterally along a horizontal plane to aposition axially out of alignment with said tube receiving position,said supports being movable vertically to effect movement of said tubeholding means along a plane normal to the first mentioned horizontalplane to a position axially out of alignment with said die, said armsbeing movable to move said tube holding means from said last mentionedposition along a plane parallel to said first mentioned horizontal planeof movement of the tube holding means to a position in axial alignmentwith said die, means to effect said horizontal swinging movements ofsaid arms, and means to effect vertical movement of said supports onwhich said arms are mounted.

7. In a machine for die drawing metal tubes, a stationary die, a tubeholding means including a tube receiving barrel for sustaining a tube inaxial alignment with said die, an elevator carrying said tube holdingmeans, a mandrel insertable within a tube for location within said dieand spaced therefrom by the tube, a rod secured to said mandrel andextending within said tube and barrel and anchored to the latter at apoint remote from the mandrel, said barrel having a screw threadedportion rotatable within and axially located by said elevator, wherebyrotation of said barrel efiects axial adjustment of said mandrel withrespect to said die.

8. A manipulator for feeding attenuated articles from an elevatedretracted position to a lowered advanced position comprising, aplurality of pairs of bearings in spaced relation lengthwise of anarticle, each bearing providing vertical guide means, a vertical shaftfor each guide means, mounted therein for straight line verticalmovement between the aforesaid elevated and lowered position, atransverse arm mounted on each of said shafts, for oscillation about theshaft as an axis between said retracted and forward position, the armsof one pair extending toward the arms of. the other pair in overlappingrelation, article holding means supported by the arms of each pair andmeans for actuating said shafts and arms for alternate operation so thatas the shafts of one pair are lowered, the shafts of the other pair areraised while the arms are oscillated out of overlapping relation, to andfrom the aforesaid positions.

9. A manipulator as in claim 8, wherein said arms are provided with ascrew threaded bore and said article holding means has a screw threadedportion received in said bore for rotary adjustment.

10. A manipulator as in claim 8, in which said means for actuating saidarms comprises actuating arms mounted for longitudinal movement and foroscillation, a connection between each of said actuating arms and eachone of the arms of each pair of transverse arms, and means for actuatingsaid actuating arms.

11. A manipulator as in claim 8, and in which said article holding meansare pivotally supported by the transverse arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,196,155 Smith Apr. 2, 1940 2,331,953 Andrews et al. Oct. 19, 19432,419,870 Andrews Apr. 29, 1947 2,472,231 Rodder June 7, 1949 2,536,637Garwig Ian. 2, 1951

